State Winners for 2018 Longest Married Couple Project Announced by Worldwide Marriage Encounter
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 5, 2018 /
Christian Newswire/ -- The 2018 state winners of the eighth annual Longest Married Couple Project, sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), the original faith-based marriage enrichment program in this country, were announced today.
"At this time of year with Valentine's Day approaching and the Olympics right around the corner, it is amazing to us the number of state winner couples who are truly Gold Medal champions-- having been married 70 years or more," explained Joe & Sue Talarico and Fr. Tom Ogg, the United States Leadership Team for WWME.
"As in previous years there were many, many nominations submitted," the Talaricos explained, adding, "And, again we witnessed couples married 40 or 50 years being recognized by family and friends as they submitted their names to the Longest Married Couple Project."
The 2018 longest married couple in the United States, based on the nominations submitted, is Mota & Avanelle Young from Bowling Green, KY. They are married over 81 years having made their marriage vows on April 14, 1936. The Talaricos and Fr. Ogg will be honoring Mr. & Mrs. Young in a special ceremony in their hometown of Bowling Green at the Holiday Inn University Plaza this coming Valentine's Day weekend.
The WWME leadership team noted that there were two other couples married 80 plus years and they are state winners.
As in previous years of the 8-year project, individual state winners will also be recognized and honored by couples involved with Worldwide Marriage Encounter over the Valentine's weekend. or at a time convenient for the winning state couple and their families.
Winners of the project are automatically made members of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Longest Married Couple Project Alumni group. Couples cannot succeed themselves each year as either national or state winners, thus giving an opportunity to honor other longest married couples across the country.
The Talaricos also pointed out that the project is based on nominations received from October 10th the previous year to January 10th of the current year. They also said there were no nominations this year from five states.
The list of the 2018 state winners and their hometowns and wedding dates are as follows:
Alabama
Mike & Ann Boland Tuscaloosa, AL August 14, 1971 46 years
Alaska
Clyde & Mary Lovel Anchorage, AK June 17, 1954 63 years
Arizona
Peter & Virginia Benenati Scottsdale, AZ July, 1950 67 years
Arkansas
Raymond & Mary Jean Troillet Little Rock, AR Oct 7, 1946 71 years
California
Francis & Genevieve Ferry Auburn, CA July 23, 1943 74 years
Colorado
Emil(Rusty) & Elizabeth(Betty) Siefken Ft Collins, CO April 14, 1944 73 years
Connecticut
LeRoy & Dorothy Bredenburg Southbury, CT Dec 24, 1937 80 years
Delaware
Creadick Sr. & Doris Powell Wilmington, DE Sept 3, 1949 68 years
Florida
Benny & Angela Addeo Delray Beach, FL Sept 11, 1948 69 years
Georgia
Robert & Catherine Pollard Roswell, GA April 25, 1946 71 years
Hawaii
Sotero & Caridad Ragasa Honolulu, HI Nov 11, 1949 68 years
Illinois
Ray & Lucille Tiburzi Staunton, IL Aug 27, 1940 77 years
Indiana
Ray & Barbara Glaze Plainfield, IN Dec 31, 1947 70 years
Iowa
Merlwin & Violet Lindner Nashua, IA Nov 24, 1942 75 years
Kansas
Chester & Ruth Wenger Whiting, KS Feb 4, 1948 69 years
Kentucky (State & National Winners)
Mota & Avanelle Young Bowling Green, KY April 14, 1936 81 years
Louisiana
Charles & Rita Serio Morganza, LA May 16, 1942 76 years
Maine
Heck & Doris Bardsley York, ME Jan 7, 1943 75 years
Maryland
Jennings & Mary Cross Hughesville, MD Aug 30, 1947 70 years
Massachusetts
George & Mary Hersey Brockman, MA Jan 6, 1946 71 years
Michigan
Roy & Anita Harrington Wyoming, MI June 28, 1941 76 years
Minnesota
Marvin & Ellen Scheuble Montrose, MN June 6, 1944 73 years
Missouri
Lenos & Wilma Meneely Meadville, MO Dec 25, 1944 73 years
Montana
Irvin & Jean Weathermon Laurel, MT Sept 10, 1947 70 years
Nebraska
Raymond & Margaret Davis Bassett, NE March 7, 1944 73 years
New Hampshire
Phil & Maggie Nicoloff Durham, NH March 31, 1951 66 years
New Jersey
David & Margaret Jaffe Scotch Plains, NJ Jan 2, 1944 74 years
New Mexico
Frank & Jeanette Devoti Albuquerque, NM Jan 29, 1947 70 years
New York
Arnold & Margaret Schultz Troy, NY Sept 18, 1943 74 years
North Carolina
Jack & Betty Gunkle Greensboro, NC Dec 20, 1940 77 years
North Dakota
Pete & Mary Ellen Naaden Braddock, ND Nov 29, 1947 70 years
Ohio
Esher & Catherine Lingel Reynoldsburg, OH Aug 29, 1942 75 years
Oklahoma
Arden & Thelma Lee Crum Oklahoma City, OK July 8, 1942 75 years
Oregon
Bill & Mary Trumm Canby, OR Nov 28, 1945 72 years
Pennsylvania
Elmer & Gertrude Greey, Jr Shippensburg, PA Sept 27, 1952 65 years
Rhode Island
Donald & Patricia Turbitt Gloucester, RI April 20, 1961 56 years
South Carolina
Fred & Nema Holmes Greenville, SC April 12, 1941 76 years
South Dakota
Robert & Genevieve Brechtel Vale, SD May 20, 1946 71 years
Tennessee
John & Grace Gridley Chattanooga, TN Jan 31, 1948 69 years
Texas
Leroy & Fannie Sanders Powderly, TX Oct 16, 1937 80 years
Vermont
Theodore & Florence Lindgren Springfield, VT June 20, 1942 75 years
Virginia
John & Maria Cassidy Arlington, VA Aug 20, 1949 68 years
Washington
Alfred & Elinor Fergen Snohomish, WA Aug 20, 1946 71 years
Wisconsin
Tom & Margaret Stephens New Richmond, WI Sept 22, 1944 73 years
Wyoming
Howard & Joan Kunesh Sheridan, WY Jan 11, 1947 71 years
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 50 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at facilities where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in almost 100 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. It offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online go to
wwme.org or contact the WWME Office at (909) 863-9963.
